MISS ANJU JAIN Vs. PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgment of mine will dispose of C.W.P. Nos. 15103, 15111, 15131, 15181, 15280, 15281, 15282, 15318, 15358, 15382 15383, 15384, 15400, 15413, 15421, 15428, 15438, 15489, 15490, 15616, 15641, 15699, 15750, 15788, 15789, 15838, 15839, 15840, 15848, 15856, 15857, 115902, 15989, 16018, 16029, 16281, 16294, 16304, 16183, 16566 and 16576 of 1991, as common questions of law and facts are involved in these petitions.

(2.) In all the writ petitions, excepting C.W.P. Nos. 15848 15413 and 15641 of 1991, petitioners had sought admission in the 1st Semester in the Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh for the session 1991-92. In C.W.P. Nos. 15848 and 154143 of 1991 petitioners had sought admission in Bachelors of Library Science and Bachelors of Mass Communication respectively in the Panjab University for the Session 1991-92, whereas in C.W.P. No. 15641 of 1991, petitioner has sought admission for session 1991-92 M.Sc. Chemistry in Sanmati Government College of Science, Education and Research, Jagraon, District. Ludhiana, which is affiliated to Panjab University.

(3.) Before adverting to the points raised by the petitioners in these writ petitions, it would be necessary to give little background of the whole matter, which has led the petitioners to file these writ petitions. In the Panjab University, prior to 1986, a candidate had to do 10 + 1 course before he was admitted to Three years degree course, which led ultimately to the award of the degree of Bachelors in Arts or Science as the case may be. Much prior to this, the Bachelor of degree course consisted of two years study after Matric, (which was commonly known as Intermediate), and then two years further course leading to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science, as the case may be. These type of courses have been termed by the University as '14 years Degree'. With effect from 1986, on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, the Panjab University started another pattern of study leading to the award of degree of Bachelor of Arts/Science. According to the now pattern before joining the Three Years' degree course, a candidate had to undergo 10 + 2 course and thereafter join the Three Years' degree course, leading to the award of degree of Bachelor of Arts/Science. This has been termed by the University as '15 year Degree'. This meant that after the year 1986, there was no admission to '14 year Degree'. However, the students who were already undergoing 14 years Degree course were allowed to complete their course as such, as also those candidates were allowed to take the examination of such a course who might have appeared earlier in the examination of 14 years Degree course, but had failed.